Lake Manyara National Park: Tree-Climbing Lions & the Rift Escarpment

Lake Manyara National Park runs in a narrow strip along the base of the Great Rift Valley's western escarpment, and that geography is what makes it so productive: groundwater forest, acacia woodland, open grassland, and the shallow soda lake itself all sit within a few kilometers of one another, packing an unusual range of habitats — and the wildlife that depends on them — into a small area. The park is best known for its lions, some of which have developed the unusual habit of climbing into the branches of acacia and fig trees to rest, a behavior seen in only a handful of places in Africa. Large herds of elephant and buffalo move through the groundwater forest, while the lake itself, when water levels are right, draws thousands of flamingos along with pelicans, storks, and a huge variety of other waterbirds — Manyara is regarded as one of the best birding parks on the northern circuit. The escarpment backdrop also makes for some of the most dramatic scenery of any park in the region.